A look into my life and my little ones life...... Raising a transgender child.

Please don't forget to read my first post "MEET KENNEDY" it will give you his story from the begining , It's where you get a glimpse of how we both got to this point in our lives. To a transitioned child...... and as a mother to my daughter to a mother to my son. From an upset misunderstood child to a happy robust boy ready to embrace the world!!

Thank you

Monday, January 11, 2010

Tyra Banks Show Airing

Kennedy and I, and our whole Family traveled to New York to film the Tyra Banks Show about transgender children, it airs....January 27th @ 4pm east and 3pm central time. We all had a blast and got to see New York for the first time!! Madison my oldest hailed her first cab...although we didn't need one soo that was awkward! We all had a great time and filmed a show to tell people about transgender people and children. Kennedy was so proud and so cute...he had a crush on Tyra, kept saying she was beautiful! I was proud of him he was so brave.Hope you all can tune in.

Hello. I'm a graduate journalism student at NYU working on a series of pieces concerning the transgender community.

I came across your blog and was immediately touched by your story of raising Kennedy. I would love an opportunity to briefly interview you for one of the pieces I am writing, if you would be interested.

I saw the Tyra show. Unfortunately, it was on YouTube and the image was all squished. Still, it was good to watch. I can't believe they brought that stupid minister in. Why does "the other side" of the debate always have to be a religious person? Why not a scientist who just sees the evidence going the other way? Sure, he'll be wrong, but at least he'll be using the scientific method to come to his opinions. At any rate, good luck to you and your son!

I a also a christian, I believe in God and the teachings although this is a real condition and the only way to truly understand it is to experience it for yourself I believe that GOD loves all his children and some christians are too judgmental and think they know exactly what GOD thinks we are all human and cant know for sure what God intended or does, only he does!!

Anonymous, yes it is true that I'm an atheist, but I'm not trying to knock people simply for believing in religion in this particular case. In this case, I am knocking the minister for espousing a view that has no scientific basis, and in the case of a transgender person, the scientific evidence is important and may even mean the difference between life and death. Can you imagine if Kennedy's mother had told him that he needs to learn to be a girl because God made him that way? Maybe she initially did, but if she did she clearly changed her mind once she saw the reality of the situation. I imagine that in the process of accepting her child, she did some research. The consensus among scientists is that transgender people's brains develop, in the womb, into that of one sex and the body of the other. So when someone says, "I'm a boy trapped in a girl's body" (or vice-versa) that's actually quite literally true. It is accepting this fact that will make it a safer world for transgenders.

Imagine the torture transpeople go through when their families tell them to accept their biological gender, because God doesn't make mistakes. It's dangerous. Indeed, it has led some to suicide. The minister is not presenting a valid side of the story. If a scientist presented another side of the story, chances are he would say something like, "Well, when the child hits puberty, their sex hormones will change their mind about what gender they feel they are." It would still be wrong, but since he is a scientist, he would change his views in the face of new evidence, or hopefully at least hearing Kim tell her story. Instead, the minister practically stuck his fingers in his ears and repeated the mantra of how God made people.

You obviously know nothing about transgender issues. Do you honestly think any parent wants this for their child? Did you miss the part where Kennedy's mother fought this and fought this until she realized that in order to alleviate her child's suffering, she had to allow him to live as a boy? There is a difference between having a tomboy and having a transgender child! Do some research before spouting your self-righteous nonsense. A good place to start is www.imatyfa.org

I have done my research in this area. Have you? Did you go to the website I recommended? Also, when did you decide what your gender identity was? Did you look down your pants, see what was there, and then decide as such? No, you just knew.

I have a lot to say, but due to computer issues will respond more tomorrow!I will say Anonymous, please re-read my story, i wasnt the one telling or wanting Kennedy to be a boy he was...I am a very good parent!ooh and I faught the issue for 6 years and just recently gave in so sorry you didnt gather that from my story but, I also made that clear on the show, I didnt want a transgendered child although that is what I have been dealig with you dont Know me or how I parent please dont maKe your own assumptions!! You mentioned that I told my child he was a boy I never did that, will never do that, I have a hard time valueing your opinion when you have so many false statements of what you thinK I did! I never want anything but a happy childYour examples are so small compared to the extent and extreem experiences of mine please realise your not in my shoes ,,,no where near at all

I copy and pasted 4 letters of the alphabet just to type this (computer issue ehhhh) because,, i was really anoyed to see someone just assume they now how i handeled all of this and the mistaKes I probably made as a parent,,,,,when she or he has no clue! I have fought this for a long time Anonymous ,, but was starting to hurt my child and that is why I changed and started listening and stopped hurting,,,,,Kennedy said to me mom you have to believe me ,,,,thats all I needed after 6 years of struggle

You should be ashamed of yourself for negatively judging someone you have never met. Doesn't your Bible tell you not to do that? Anyway if Candice is influenced by someone to change her mind, it's going to be from a scientifically literate person, not an idiot.

I will not allow that person put me down on my personal blog about my little one, I think that person is really judgemetal and disrespectfull!I am confident in my self, my parenting, and my familyAnonymous is filled with hate and extremly judgmentalYou are not the know all, your are the hate that I tryig to keep from my child!!Ps: I did the show to educate idiots like you!!

Hello Candice(and Kennedy and Madison!)! I just want to thank you for your brave participation in the Tyra Banks Show, watching you guys and Josie´s family made a life-changing difference for me! I am a 28-year-old male, I´m not transgendered, but have been living with the condition OCD for at least over 10 years. After watching Tyra´s show and the documentary "Age 8 and wanting a sex change"(where Josie appeared too) several times, being touched to my very core, shedding tears, and having a couple of partially sleepless nights I woke up one morning last week and felt something had changed inside me; I soon realized that my OCD was reduced to a fraction of its former state!!! I had been making some progress on my own before watching these shows but after watching the courage of Kennedy, Josie and other kids like them I somehow made a mental leap I had long hoped for but never dared believing was possible to take, at least not in one single stride! I am right now fighting to get rid of the last pieces of fear and doubt inside me, determined to become a truly free person, maybe for the first time ever!!!

The courage and determination of children like Kennedy and Josie can truly make a difference, not only for other transgendered persons, but for anyone with an open heart trying to attain at least a fraction of that courage themselves!!! If I had to come up with a reason for the fact that some people are born transgendered I would say it is to teach the rest of us to be more loving, understanding and compassionate towards one another, but also to open up our minds and hearts in the sense of learning to see ourselves as we truly are. By doing this, we can identify and then get rid of any obstacles, outer and inner, in order to reach our full potential as human beings and start living our lives to the fullest!!! This is certainly what I have begun doing!!! Again, THANK YOU!!!

(If you are still in touch with Josie´s family I would be very happy if you could forward this message to them as well!!!)

Thank you so much!! I really hope your parents listen to you if this is how you feel. I don't know why Kennedy knew as young baby that he was in deed a he it still baffles me that he was so aware and so determined to make us listen! It wasnt easy to understand but now it's just a way of life! Good luck to you and let me know if I can help!!

In my school play I have to wear a dress, and I have major problems with that. I'm not being me! I know that people turn way too much attention on sexuality, but it is seriously depressing me. Kennedy has truly inspired me. I think about his story daily and think about how brave he was, and how accepting you were. if only my mom was the same way. every time I try to indirectly tell her, she says so anti LGBT remarks, that make me so angry. if only I would have expressed the thoughts in my head when I was younger, I am approaching teenage hood. what should I do?

I have realized that biend transgendered is not just physiological, it is biological. in Kennedys case, he looks like a dude! He has the demeanor of a male. tell Kennedy thank you from me because he is a great example to different people.

by the way, when people found out about Kennedys true self, were they baffled? What were there initial reactions? Thanks.

every day school is a struggle. I steal my younger brothers apparel, I hide it in my backpack. I wear the girl clothing to school, but as soon as the bus drops me off, I run into the bathroom and change into the boy clothes. I have done this since fifth grade. why doesn't my mom get the clues yet? My dad is really accepting and he knows, but this website is the only thing I can confide in.

Kennedy 4th grade

My Kennedy

Madison and Kennedy in 20's get up

About Me

I am a mother of a transgender child wanting to raise awareness and ask for acceptance. Please open your heart to these children and just let them be happy in their own skin so they too can feel happy and content as any child deserves!